BY BILL STEWART

Staff Writer

Organizing a road race is hardly an easy endeavor.

Holding registration, recruiting volunteers and securing sponsors are just some of the challenges race directors face.

For Meneah Haworth, who is organizing the second annual Richmond Area Health Center 5-kilometer run/walk Saturday, it’s quite the learning process.

“We’ve changed everything,” she said. “We changed the course and we’ve got bigger sponsors this year.”

The race, which starts at 8:30 a.m. at the health center on 24 Gardiner St., also offers a 1-mile fun run for children.

Pre-race registration ends Friday, although runners can still sign up on race day for $20 ($25 for a T-shirt).

Haworth, a nurse practitioner at the health center, said she’s hoping for another strong race-day turnout.

“We have low registration numbers again,” she said. “We have about 40 registered. I think we were at the same spot last year.”

Haworth added the race drew about 100 runners last year. However, it didn’t raise much money for the health center.

“We got bigger sponsors this year and our goal is to raise $6,000,” Haworth said. “Through preliminary sponsorship, we’ve already raised $5,200. We’re hoping to get to $6,000 through registration.”

Also changing is the course, which last year sent runners and walkers down busy Main Street. This year, Haworth said, the course will start and end at the health center.

“Last year, it wasn’t convenient,” she said. “We were going down Main Street and it was busy. So, to avoid accidents we decided to change it.

Haworth added the course is relatively flat, save for “one steady hill.”

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The 15th annual Beach to Beacon is Aug. 4, and competitive runners are ramping up their training.

Harlow Ladd, who graduated from Messalonskee High School in the spring and will attend Purdue University in the fall, said he logged 45 miles last week.

“I’ll get up to 47 this week,” he said. “I’m super excited for the race. There’s no other like it. You know it’s a good race when it takes you a minute to reach the starting line. I’ve been going three years and I’ve never trained this hard for it in my life.”

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The Sebasticook Valley Federal Credit Union will host the annual Egg Scramble 5K on Sunday at its Pittsfield branch.

Proceeds from the run/walk will benefit area food pantries.

Registration is $17 with a T-shirt if completed by Saturday. Race-day registration is $20.

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com